Bass drum.



No. 886,471. PATENT'ED MAY 5, 1908. G. W. BRITTON.

BASS DRUM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21,1907.

'A TTOR/VE Y5 F ferred the plate 3.

GEORGE W. BRITTON, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

BASS DRUM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Application filed May 21, 1907. Serial No. 374,862..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE W. BRITTON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at- Camden, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and use- .ful Bass Drum, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bass drums and more particularly to cymbal attachments and means whereby the cymbal as well as the drum can be sounded in a simple and efficient manner.

A still further object is to simplify and improve the mechanism utilized for this purpose and to so construct it as to permit it to be folded into a compact bundle so that v the same can be conveniently carried.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention;

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion. of a drum having a cymbal attachment, embodying the present improvements, connected thereto; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section througlii a portion of the beater operating mechanism; Fig. 3 is an en larged elevation of the cymbal fastening attachment. Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a drum. of any pre construction. Arranged. upon the hoop 2 of the drum head is an angular clamping plate 3 formed at one end with a rigid jaw 4 designed to embrace the hoop 2 while at the other end of the plate is located a pivoted jaw 5. A set screw 6 is disposed. within the pivoted jaw and is designed to bear against the plate 3 so that when the screw 6 is tightened jaw 5 will clam 3 the hoop 2 against A11 ear '7 is 'ormed integral with and. extends from the plate 3 and pivotally connected thereto is a supporting plate 8 having a threaded lug 9 upon which is screwed a rod. 10 of desired length and the end. of which is suitably fastened to the center of a cymbal .11. Ears 12 extend from the plates 3 and 8 and mounted within them is an adjusting screw 13 having a head 14. This screw is designed when tightened, to swing rod 10 and the cymbal connected thereto so that the same can be quickly and accurately adj usted toward or from its beater. The hoop 2 is also engaged by a pivoted jaw 15 carried by a plate 16 and this aw has a set screw 17 designed to bear against the plate 16 so that the hoop will be tightly clamped between the jaw 15 and the plate.

which are swiveled within links 20.

which is fulcrumed as at 32 between 'the'links' 20. The lower end of lever 31 constitutes an abutment for a stem 33 projecting from a piston head 34 slidably mounted within 'a' A tubucylindrical extension 35 on plate 16.

lar inlet 36 opens into the extension 35 and valve 39 of any desired construction designed to prevent the escape of'air therethrough when the bulb is compressed but which will automatically open to admit air when the bulb is permitted to expand.

It will be seen that both the cymbal fastening device and the beater fastening device can be readily fastened to the hoop 2 and the cymbal can be easily adjusted to the beater. hen the parts have been fastened in position bulb 38 is placed. under one foot of the operator and whenever it is desired to beat the drum the bulb is compressed beneath the foot so that the air therein will be forced against the piston 34. The lever 31 will therefore be swung on its pivot so as to throw the two heaters toward the drum, one of them sounding the cymbal while the other strikes the drum. The heaters will immediately rebound and theair will return to the bulb 38 whereupon the operation can be repeated if desired simply by again compressing the bulb. Valve 39 will open automatically to admit any amount of air which may be necessary to make up for leakage. It will be seen that with this device the treadle and other mechanism ordinarily employed for operating the beater is supplanted by the Ears 18 extend up-' ward from. the plate 16 and extending through them are screws 19, the ends of A rock arm 21 is fulcrumed between the upper ends A compressible bulb 38 is located at the bulb 38' and tube 37 thereby greatly simplifying the construction of the mechanism.

When the beaters are not in use the jaw 15,

can be disengaged from hoop 2 and by loosening the screws 19 the links 30 can be swung downward and onto extension 350i plate 16 and stems 24 and 25- detached. The parts will therefore occupy a very small space and can be conveniently carried in the pocket.

In order to reduce friction a roller 40 may be mounted upon the end of the rod 33 so as to Work within a groove 41 formed in the lower end of lever 31. Although the bulb has been shown provided. with a valve it is to be understood that this valve may be located at any desired point in the mechanism rovided the same can produce the desire results What is claimed is: p

1. attachment for drums comprising drum engaging means, a rock arm supported thereabove and connected thereto, a heater carried thereby, a piston for actuating the rock arm, and means for directing fluid against the piston.

2. An attachment for drums comprising a rock arm, a heater carried thereby, means for connecting thearm to a support, a piston for actuating the arm and heater, and means for directing fluid against the piston.

3. An attachment for drums comprising a rock arm, a pivoted support therefor, a beater carried by the arm, a piston, means -for transmitting motion from the piston to the rock. arm, and means for directing fluid against the piston to actuate it.

4. An. attachment for drums comprising drum engaging means, a supporting device pivotally connected thereto, a rock arm mounted upon the supporting device, a beater carried by the rock arm, and fluid actuated means for operating the rock arm.

7 drum engaging means, a supporting device pivotally connected thereto, a rock arm mounted. upon the supporting device, a beater carried by the rock arm, an intermediate lever movably engaging the rock arm, a piston for actuating the lever, and fluid operated means for actuating the piston.

7. The combination with a plate, and means for securing the same to a drum; of supporting members pivotally connected to the plate and disposed to fold upon the plate, means for securing said members against movement, a rock arm pivotally mounted between said members, a beater carried thereby, a cylindrical extension upon the plate, a piston therein, mechanism operated by the piston for actuating the rock arm, and means for directing fluid under pressure against the piston.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiflxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. BRITTON.

Witnesses:

THOMAS B. PARK, ALFRED Nononoss. 

